Some people measure a person’s friendship by asking the question, “Is he the guy I’d call to bail me out of jail in the middle of the night?”  In effect, David Cutcliffe has done just that for Fulmer and the Volunteers, and their success so far this season is reminding fans of the good old days.

After Tennessee finished with a 5-6 record last season and didn’t go to a bowl game for the first time since 1989, a lot of people in Big Orange Country were calling for Phillip Fulmer’s job.

If ever a coach was on the hot seat or “in jail,” it was Fulmer. Who else could come to the rescue but the one and only David Cutcliffe?

 After answering all the tough questions that were thrown at him, Fulmer decided to make a change. He fired receivers coach Pat Washington and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens, and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders also stepped down.

At that point, if ever a coach was on the hot seat or “in jail,” it was Fulmer. Who else could come to the rescue but the one and only David Cutcliffe?

Cutcliffe was Fulmer’s offensive coordinator from the time Fulmer started as head coach in 1992, until just before the national championship game in 1998, when Sanders took over. Sanders took the offensive helm after Cutcliffe left to coach the Ole Miss Rebels. Cutcliffe ended up having more success in Oxford than any of his predecessors, but was fired after a 4-7 season in 2004.

In the last 15 years of coaching, Cutcliffe has produced three first-round pick quarterbacks, two of whom were related. You might know them as the Manning brothers, and they are turning out to be serviceable NFL quarterbacks, if you like things like leading the league in TDs and yards every season. The big question going into this season was “can he do it again?”

So far the answer from Rocky Top has been a resounding YES! After splitting time with Rick Clausen last season, Erik Ainge has not only taken the Tennessee offense by the reins, but he has also become a leader in the locker room. Ainge has thrown for 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions so far this year. He ended last season with only five TDs and seven interceptions. He is currently leading the nation in passing yards with 276.2 per game, and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best QBs in the country.

It is easy to see the magic that Cutcliffe has worked with Erik Ainge. You can also see that because the Vols have an offense that scores points, the rest of the team is playing inspired too. The Tennessee defense can take a few more chances this year because the offense is averaging 35 points per game. There is no doubt that having to hold opponents to only five touchdowns or fewer each game has made defensive coordinator John Chavis’ job a little easier too. All the attention the offense has been getting has given head coach Phillip Fulmer a lot more time to convince Tennessee fans that Cutcliffe is the right man for the job.

As long as Tennessee keeps winning football games, Fulmer can rest easy. He doesn’t have to worry about being fired anymore. After he turns a 5-6 season into a bowl bid and a win over rivals Georgia, Alabama and Steve Spurrier, it would be unthinkable to tell Phillip Fulmer to take a hike.

Fulmer is widely recognized as one of the best recruiters in the country. With reports that David Cutcliffe is interested in being a head coach again, however, Fulmer’s most important recruit may be his offensive coordinator. If Phillip Fulmer wants to keep being successful and keep his job for that matter, he had better do everything in his power to get David Cutcliffe back for next season. After Cutcliffe left in 1998, Tennessee’s offensive production steadily declined until falling into the abyss in 2005. Phillip Fulmer cannot sustain another season without David Cutcliffe.

Volunteer fans can rest assured that Tennessee’s offense is in good hands, at least for now. It will be up to Phillip Fulmer and the Tennessee athletics department to decide the fate of our football program after this season. Let’s just hope they have learned from the past, and Fulmer doesn’t end up “in jail” once again.

*Cutcliffe coached the entire 1998 regular season as well as the SEC championship game. Randy Sanders was offensive coordinator for the national championship game only